Beyond Cultural Competence, Toward Social Transformation: Liberation Psychologies and the Practice of Cultural Humility

Abstract

ABSTRACT The article uses a liberation psychologies framework to develop and strengthen a social dimension to cultural humility, one that is oriented toward social transformation. First, cultural humility is contextualized as a complement or alternative to cultural competence, addressing critiques raised about cultural competence frameworks. Second, research on cultural humility is reviewed, noting a focus on individual provider characteristics and perceptions of interpersonal relationships. Third, a liberation psychologies lens is used to conceptualize cultural humility at multiple levels: developing a critical consciousness (individual level), seeing the other (interpersonal level), and psychosocial accompaniment (collective level). A liberation psychologies orientation toward issues of oppression and social justice is proposed as consistent with a multilevel approach to defining cultural humility, especially at a collective level. Examples of cultural humility and its connections to practices such as social justice–oriented service learning pedagogies, community-based participatory research (CBPR), and practice-based evidence (PBE) approaches are discussed, as well as implications for future research and education regarding cultural humility.